Definition: In table tennis, a serve is used to start a rally. In singles play, the ball is struck by the server from behind the endline of his side of the table, and must hit the playing surface on his side of the table first (and only once), before going over or around the net, and then bouncing on the opponent’s side of the playing surface.
In doubles play, the server must also serve so the ball bounces in the right half of his court, and the right half of the opponent’s court (that is, diagonally).
